Expression of Mycoplasma pneumoniae antigens in Escherichia coli

A genomic library of Mycoplasma pneumoniae was generated by using bacteriophage lambda EMBL3 as the vector. Screening of the library for the expression of M. pneumoniae protein antigens with adsorbed anti-M. pneumoniae serum revealed strong reactivity from a third of those clones which contained mycoplasma DNA inserts. Three of the most highly reactive clones were analyzed in detail and found to synthesize discrete mycoplasma proteins. Two carried overlapping fragments of mycoplasma DNA which encoded a protein that was readily detected in Escherichia coli after infection with recombinant bacteriophage. The third clone contained a novel mycoplasma DNA fragment which directed the synthesis of two additional mycoplasma proteins. Further screening of the library with antiserum raised against the major M. pneumoniae adhesin protein P1 (165 kilodaltons [kDa]) yielded one clone which produced an immunologically reactive protein of 140 kDa. Adsorption of anti-P1 serum by this clone selected a population of antibodies that were reactive with M. pneumoniae adhesin P1 (165 kDa). These results demonstrate that immunologically active M. pneumoniae proteins are synthesized in E. coli.